MCSO: Woman uses broom to punish son

A Queen Creek woman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of hitting her 9-year-old son with a broom as punishment for not obeying her orders to clean the house, Maricopa County sheriff's deputies said.

Cathy Melendez, 32, was booked into jail on several charges, including one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Jesse Melendez, 37, faces two aggravated assault charges.

Sheriff's investigators said the 9-year-old told them Cathy Melendez picked up the broom and hit him in the arm repeatedly, and then instructed him to tell doctors he had suffered the injuries from falling down the stairs.

The boy's grandmother reported his abuse to Phoenix police, but due to the jurisdiction, the report was forwarded to MCSO.

The boy said his stepfather, Jesse Melendez, had been physically abusing him for years with a metal bar, MCSO deputies said.

Investigators said the boy described another alleged incident where his 14-year-old brother was punched in the face and arm by Jesse Melendez for having a cell phone.

Deputies said the boy's 13-year-old sister told them about an alleged incident in November where she had been hit in the face with her own shoe that she said was thrown by Jesse Melendez.

During an MCSO interview after she was arrested, investigators said Cathy Melendez admitted to hitting her 9-year-old with the broom multiple times while he was jumping on his bed.